Friday, March 04, 2011

Fast Sock, Slow Sock

The first of the pair of self-striping Goth Socks is complete. I have deadlines circling like sharks, but I allowed myself to work on it as treat every time I crossed a quarter mile off the to-do list.

The skein-in-chief came with an assistant mini-skein of pure black, therefore the plain heel and toe. I appreciate the black heel and toe because I never enjoy what happens to self-striping when you hit the heel and the colors start to hiccup.

My only issue with the finished product is that it's so terribly cool, I fear I am insufficiently cool to wear it. It suggests a level of gritty urban élan I will only ever possess if I can develop a personal style that goes beyond slipping into whatever mud-colored sweater from Kohl's is lowest on the shelf in the morning.

I'll toss you the link to Goth Socks (catch!) but Steph is still replenishing her stock after rabid fans sucked her dry in forty minutes at Madrona. Please be advised that as of this writing, the cupboard is bare.

Also on the needles under the category "Socks, Assorted" is the blue Bavarian twisted stitch number I started a couple of weeks ago just for the sheer hell of it. Twisted stitch is not as easily picked up and laid aside as stockinette, so the growth is less spectacular, but I'm bewitched (yet again) by the technique.

The Pink Thing, in case you're wondering, has grown by leaps and bounds but I'm not going to bother putting up a photograph. At this awkward stage, it's all smooshed up on a circular needle and doesn't look like anything except a whole bunch of smooshed-up pink. If you'd like to get some idea of the effect, find a whole bunch of something pink and smoosh it. Smoosh it real good.

On the Air

In the last, frantic minutes of the marketplace at Vogue Knitting Live!, a pair of exquisite Canadian Podcasting sisters, The Savvy Girls, asked me for an interview. I was delighted, and they were delightful. The episode is here. It will be of particular interest to anyone who wants to know what I sound like when my body and brain are running on adrenaline, yarn fumes and cheap chocolate from the 24-hour deli on 53rd Street.

On the Road

Coming right up, I'll be in Madison, Wisconsin for a pair of appearances at The Sow's Ear prior to and following the dizzy whirl of the annual Madison Knitters' Guild Knit-In. I'll be hanging out and signing stuff at the famous Sow's Ear Late Night Knitting on Friday, March 18 from 6:30 pm–8:30 pm; and teaching two classes ("Photographing Your Fiber" and "Working with Antique Patterns") on Sunday, March 20. Check out the shop's Web site for details.

Looking ahead, it appears that Iceland won't be the only international destination on the calendar this year.

I've just been added to the roster for Knit Nation London 2011, the second coming of Cookie A's and Socktopus's brilliant idea in London from July 15-17. The schedule isn't up yet, but you can get yourself on the mailing list to be notified once it is. You know how I feel about London, and England, and knitters, so you'll also understand that now I have to go lie down for a while, because I feel one of my spells coming on.

since you introduced us to the Blackthorn's, life has not been the same. Mine arrived and I had to lie down. I take them out and admire them every day. I've promised them a roll in the Blue Moon heavy weight sox this weekend, followed by a cigarette and a nap. Many thanks..

I LOVE that Goth yarn. (And that's ridiculous, because I don't like self-striping...only...that stuff isn't pooling. Or looking like a 2 year old dyed it (on a sugar high).)

As for the upcoming events, I can only say that you'd better keep an eye on Dolores. Especially if you manage a visit to the Tower of London. It would be handy to lock her in, but I think the guards might be too much for her, all those uniforms....

I think you are definately cool enough to wear those socks! And if I manage to persuade the other half that we need to visit my parents in the UK (only 60 or so miles from London) in July instead of April, then I expect to see you wearing them at Knit Nation!!

Franklin, wear the Goth socks like women wear pretty lingerie: nobody can see it, but you walk around with a little smile on your lips because you know you are wearing it. It puts a little sashay in your step.

Twisted-stitch patterns are my absolute favorite for sock knitting. What is the pattern you're knitting? Can you recommend any books of twisted stitch patterns?

Before this, I've never wondered what Salt, Pepa, and Spinderella would knit or what sorts of knitted stuff they would wear. Now I can think of little else. Thanks for giving me another kick in the right brain!

And you are cooler than Cool Hand Luke and hipper than Birkenstocks. They're magnificent socks; you are a magnificent person. Perfect match!

Such a fun colorway! I'm sure you'll totally rock the goth socks. But I'm a sucker for plain ol' colors with amazing stitch patterns like your Bavarian Twisted Stitch ones you've got in progress. What can I say, I guess I'm a traditionalist. But there's very little as fun and exciting as watching a stockinette sock with a fun stripe pattern fly off the needles, so I can't say I blame you in the least.

I'm with Lisa's philosophy on underwear. It should make you smile/smirk and put a bit of bounce in your step. After all, the only requirements (according to uncounted past generations of grandmothers) is that it be clean and "neat". Also covet the twisted stitch pattern.

Just been catching up with your posts. I'm the crazy lady from Alabama who made you the Battle Dwarven Hat when you came to Yarn Expressions a couple of years ago. Anyhow, have you STILL not made yerself some winter hats? Hmmm....I may have to do something about that. I made another friend of mine a couple of hats in handspun alpaca a few years ago- he's quite a fashionisto and he liked them very much and they were almost sinfully pleasurable to knit........ I think I may start saving up for Madrona! You were terrific on FiberBeat. Carry on with all yer wonderfulness. :o)

Are you going to give any independent courses/lectures in Iceland? As for actual Icelanders that have seen all the sights on the tour(or might live smack on some of the tourist spots) and have knit several lopapeysa, but might be very interested in a photography course perhaps?

I love the twisted stitch sock. I wish more companies would make great solid or semisolid colors so patterns like this show up well. Self-striping yarns are fun, but stitch patterns do not show up well.

It bugs me when a self striping yarn or a color transition gets messed up by the heel, too. I use yarn from the other end of the ball (the outside end if it's a center pull) to make the heel and switch back to the original strand after the heel is done.

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